Well it looks like you are in the same boat as I was last year. I looked into every accelerated program and really did my research. While they are good, I weighed them on cost and acceptance. Fairleigh and Seton Hall are really really expensive! Like about 40K. I just had a friend that graduated from Seton Hall acclerated RN and she loved it. But if you can afford it then go for it. I went for the cheaper route and am attending a state school in PA (Edinboro University) and it's great. I am actually from NJ so I moved here to pursue the program.
All I can say is that you really have to do your research. And I suggest beginning to apply now. The dates really creep up on ya and a lot of schools have waiting lists. I also applied to Stony Brook and it was difficult to get in!
Hope that helped. If you have any questions feel free to contact me. Good Luck

Thanks so much for your reply, I'm a newcomer to this website and I was beginning to think that no one was going to welcome me or give me any tips in ample time for me to figure out what are my best options. This whole application process is so draining. I taught it was tough at first trying to figure out what I really wanted to do with my future. Now that I've figured out that becoming an RN is definitely the path for me. It seems like hell trying to get there.

I am completing Stony Brook's 1 year accelerated program. The academics are easy. The hard part is the time committment. Be prepared to spend 6 full days a week at school in addition to doing schoolwork after you get home. Overall, I am very displeased with Stony Brook's School of Nursing. The administration is very difficult to work with and the supportive staff are clueless. While the classroom faculty tend to be okay, some of the clinical instructors are pretty bad (inflexible, unhelpful, condescending, intimidating and unkind). Many of my classmates have had horrendous clinical experiences in which they have been humiliated, insulted and judged rather unfairly. The subjective nature of the clinical experiences make for an unfair grading policy.

I have been accepted to Creighton University, Drexel University and Seton Hall University but will probably go to Creighton. Obviously I haven't started a program yet, but what I am basing my decision on is cost and attention to me. At Creighton, they have set all of the accepted and waitlisted students up on a message board, they have tons of info about the school, the city of Omaha, book lists, cpr info, stethoscope info, uniform info and even phone #'s of all utilities, apartment listings etc. They have returned every one of my calls and emails within a few days if not hours and not to mention they have had an accelerated nursing program since 1975. In other words...they've been getting 55 students out in a 12 month program every spring and fall for longer than I've been alive! Seton Hall and Drexel just seem really really expensive on top of the fact that I've had a hard time getting much response to my questions. I realize Nebraska isn't necessarily the top location to move to..but when it comes to a school I think Creighton is pretty top notch...check it out

I have been accepted to Creighton University, Drexel University and Seton Hall University but will probably go to Creighton. Obviously I haven't started a program yet, but what I am basing my decision on is cost and attention to me. At Creighton, they have set all of the accepted and waitlisted students up on a message board, they have tons of info about the school, the city of Omaha, book lists, cpr info, stethoscope info, uniform info and even phone #'s of all utilities, apartment listings etc. They have returned every one of my calls and emails within a few days if not hours and not to mention they have had an accelerated nursing program since 1975. In other words...they've been getting 55 students out in a 12 month program every spring and fall for longer than I've been alive! Seton Hall and Drexel just seem really really expensive on top of the fact that I've had a hard time getting much response to my questions. I realize Nebraska isn't necessarily the top location to move to..but when it comes to a school I think Creighton is pretty top notch...check it out

I was born in Omaha, NE, and I went to Creighton University, although not as a nursing student. It is a GREAT city (low costs, crime, and traffic) and Creighton is top notch they treat thier students with RESPECT!

jzprple-
How is the financial aid office there? I hear Drexel's is not so great...

Honestly...I've been very impressed all around w/ Creighton. I'm not sure exactly what ??'s you have about the financial aid office specifically, but when I did my campus visit at CU, I went over to the financial aid office w/o an appointment and the guy took the time to meet w/ me even though he had a lot going on that day. I was concerned w/ exactly how I would pay for an accelerated program...Until I got my first acceptance letter I was more worried about getting into a program and hadn't really thought about $$. Anyway, the guy in Financial Aid actually sat down and layed out exactly how much I would probably qualify for in loans and how much I could get in outside loans and even knew a pretty good # that they have estimated for living costs, books etc. My FAFSA was due April 1 and I talked to the office last week and they said I should know something by the end of this month so I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

As for Drexel..I don't know much. It actually really has concerned me that Drexel and Seton Hall haven't been all that great about getting back to me about anything. I figure if I'm getting ready give them my first 4 unborn children in order to pay for school, I should really be getting some top notch attention. If they won't bother now, why will they once I get there. anyway...sorry for the rant...just a thought.